FACTORS AFFECTING WOMEN'S ACCESS TO AGRICULTURAL SERVICES AND FARM INCOME IN SENNAR STATE

Abstract

This study was conducted in Abu Hujar, Dali and Mazmum localities of Sennar State, Sudan. Its aim is to identify the principle factors affecting women's access to agricultural services and farm income - the proceeds from production of dura, sesame and millet. In addition, the study is intended for comparing female and male farmers in terms of a set of variables constituting the hypothesized path model of factors affecting access to agricultural production resources and services and their impacts. Data for the study were collected during the 2008 agricultural season. A stratified random sampling procedure was used to select 60 male farmers and 60 female farmers for comparative analysis. The primary data were collected through use of structured interview schedules. Secondary data were obtained from relevant sources. In data analysis, the researcher used the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences. The analysis of data revealed that farmers were heterogeneous in terms of educational level. There were significant differences between female and male farmers in the number of years of schooling completed. Illiteracy was found to be more prevalent among females. This had a negative effect on grasping and benefiting from technological information. The study also demonstrated that male farmers have better opportunities to access extension and financial services. Farmers' participation in agricultural cooperatives and community-based organizations was modest, especially among women. Path analysis revealed the magnitude of direct, indirect and total effects on farm income and the causally prior variables in the hypothesized causal model. Farm income was found to be affected principally by farmland size and area under crops, education and access to credit. The principal significant predictors of area under crop were found to be farmland size, access to credit and education. Access to credit was affected principally by farmland size, adoption of the recommended crop production packages and education. Farmland size was found to be dependent on years of education, a finding which indicate that the relatively more educated farmers possess larger farming units. The adoption of recommended crop production package was found to be principally dependent on access to extension services, farmland size and education. Access to extension services was found to be significantly associated with farmland size and education. This finding suggests that larger farmers have more access to agriculture production resources and services in Sennar State. On the basis of the study findings, a set of recommendations for achieving equitable access to agricultural production resources and services by male and female farmers was put forward. iv